redneck temperature control chamber for fermentation

[RadicalCat]

I've been fermenting ales and lagers in the house, and I have rooms with good temperature ranges for those. But I haven't found a place warm enough regularly in the winter for DADY or the yellow label yeast I want to try out. So I set out to build a warming / temperature control chamber.

My first attempt was a failure. I got a large plastic pin, lined it with styrofoam insulation and spray-in insulation, with a hole for the chord of a space heater. After my first test run, I found the space heater kept kicking off. Probably not the best idea to begin with.

Next I got two submersible, temperature adjusting aquarium heaters - one 125 watts, the other 100 watts. I've read a rule of thumb that 1 watt = 1 liter water. Tonight I'm testing both in a cooler in my outside shed, with a weighted bucket and thermometer inside. I'm optimistic that this setup will work, and that I'll only need one heater, hopefully letting me run two fermentation at a time. I expect some big temperature loss with the cracked lid, but I don't want to drill / insulate better until it looks like this concept will work.

Any feedback, comments, or tips very welcome!

[NZChris]

Aquarium heaters work really well in aquariums because there are pumps and air stones forcing circulation and ensuring that the temperature is even throughout the tank.

Heat rises, so if you forget to allow for that in your design you may create a problem.

[Demy]

I use heating bands, they can be applied in contact with the fermenter, and they don't necessarily need a room, just a simple blanket to insulate.

[Dougmatt]

I use heating bands, they can be applied in contact with the fermenter, and they don't necessarily need a room, just a simple blanket to insulate.

+1 on the bands and I put them near the bottom as heat rises. If it’s really cold I also wrap in a heavy blanket and sometimes an electric blanket.

[Saltbush Bill]

Heres my version of the Redneck Fermenter Warmer....... viewtopic.php?f=83&t=87046

[300bosup]

I built a chamber using insulated metal wall panels that were leftovers from a building that I worked on. I put a seedling starter warming mat on the bottom and run the temperature probe against my fermenters. Works great for keeping the temperature up in the basement during winter time.

[subbrew]

I have used aquarium heaters for years for beer. They work great. I put one on a tub of water with a temp controller and toss a blanket over it. It keeps a beer ferment warm (about 70) in a 55 F shop with no problem. I put the heater on one side of the tub and the temp probe on the other side. I have check and get less then 2 degrees temp spread from side to side.

[shadylane]

...I got two submersible, temperature adjusting aquarium heaters - one 125 watts, the other 100 watts. I've read a rule of thumb that 1 watt = 1 liter water. Tonight I'm testing both in a cooler in my outside shed, with a weighted bucket and thermometer inside. I'm optimistic that this setup will work, and that I'll only need one heater, hopefully letting me run two fermentation at a time.

Any feedback, comments, or tips very welcome!

That should work good for Ya.
Put a spacer under the fermenter so warm water can get under it.